It’s no longer news that Spanish air master and retired professional footballer, Carles Puyol Saforcada, popularly known as “The Wall” would be visiting Nigeria between April 16 – 18, 2019.
Regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, Puyol has won 20 major titles, including six La Liga trophies and three UEFA Champions League titles.
He has also won 100 caps for Spain, and was part of the squads that won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup.
“The Wall,” labelled for his defence prowess, was also Barcelona’s captain from August 2004 until his retirement in 2014.
However, since it was announced that Puyol will be on the UEFA Champions League tour to Nigeria, he should savour Nigerian delicacies to taste what it feels like to be a Nigerian.
Our reporter presents the five meals he should try when he arrives Nigeria:
Jollof Rice
One of the major reasons we can’t agree with Ghanaians, the dish is a delicacy majorly across the Eastern and Western parts of Nigeria consisting of rice, tomato paste, palm oil, onions, salt, spices and peppers with optional ingredients vegetables, meats, or fish. Due to the tomato paste and typically used red palm oil, the dish is mainly red in colour.
Fried Plantain (Dodo)
Dodo is a must for Puyol! Fried plantain may be served as a snack, a starter or as a side dish to the main course, such as with Jollof rice, spicy barbecued meat, tomato stew or beans. It is a versatile meal made either salted or unsalted, and can be diced or fried whole.
Pepper Soup
Ah, Nigerians and our love for pepper! Can you separate us from it? There’s no way Puyol will come to Nigeria and not try the infamous pepper soup!
It is such a versatile and recreational recipe which can be prepared with different types of meat, fish, chicken and snail. Thus, there is the Chicken Pepper Soup, the Catfish Pepper Soup popularly known as Point & Kill, the Goat Meat Pepper Soup, the Cow Foot Pepper Soup and the Assorted Beef Pepper Soup. e.t.c.
Egusi Soup
Prepared with melon seeds, the Egusi soup is prepared by most tribes in Nigeria in many different ways. It is known as Miyan Gushi in Hausa, Ofe Egusi in Igbo and Efo Elegusi in Yoruba. It is mostly eaten with swallow meals such as Eba, Amala and pounded yam.
Banga Soup
Banga is a palm fruit soup from Southern Niger Delta, particularly the Urhobo ethnic group.
Banga Soup is flavoured with Aidan fruit, Banga spice a stick of Oburunbebe, finely chopped onion, ground crayfish, Chili pepper or scotch bonnet, and salt.
The soup is sometimes eaten with a cocoyam pudding called Kwacoco.
Banga Soup is mostly prepared using fresh catfish, dried/smoked fish or meat.
What other meals do you think Puyol should try?
